SHUBHANGI SHIFA
Ranchi, March 14: With increasing awareness about mental health and counseling, there has been an increase in people consulting counselors throughout the pandemic. However, the Ranchi University Psychology department has been working hard to tackle the stigma about mental health through the formation of a Counseling Centre in RU premises for all. Since its inception in 2017, the Centre has helped several hundreds of students, teachers and parents of students along with outsiders from Bihar, Jharkhand and other states free of cost.
While talking to Lagatar24.Com, Director Dr M P Hassan, Psychology department said, “Former VC Dr Ramesh Kumar Pandey had released a notification by the University Grant Commission (UGC) in September, 2017, after which, Dr Meena Jaiswal was made the coordinator, while I was made the in-charge of the counseling cell. We worked without remunerations and appointed D.Litt research fellows including Dr Abha Ekka and Dr Shashi Kapoor Prasad as psychologists at the University.”
Dr Hassan continued, “We have had students, teachers and parents in large numbers. These cases have even been recorded and documented by Dr Abha and Dr Shashi, which we still have. As per our bylaws, we had decided that we would never mention names of our patients, even in records. Instead, we would mention their age and gender along with the issues of said patients. Within the first year itself, we received more than 100 cases. After this, we realized that there was a big need for counselors throughout the state, which we thought to fulfill by sending counselors trained by us to the people that cannot come to us for sessions. This was how we further decided to start the Post Graduate department of Guidance and Counseling, which began in 2019-2020.”
Talking of the cases that the team has seen till now, the director said, “We have been seeing several cases that are different from the regular norm, for instance, we had a parent that did not want to get their daughter married, and wished to marry her instead. However, on an average rate, we have mostly had cases for anxiety and depression. I personally believe anxiety and depression are the worst kinds of issues people can have. These can be treated through behavioral therapy, however, people need to be aware enough to know their issues and seek help.”
When asked if the team had to face issues while opening the cell and starting course, Dr Hassan added, “I am greatly thankful to the then VC Ramesh Pandey for leaving no stone unturned in helping to open the counseling center and then the PG course in counseling. Notably, we provide counseling to everyone free of cost here. People from out of state are also helped to arrange food and lodging, if they need help.”
While talking of a need to destigmatize mental illness, Dr Hassan said, “In any relationship, conversation is the key. For instance, if we are talking to someone and get upset because of something they said, however, don’t talk of it; the issue will remain with us for a long time and unknowingly may manifest in other actions by us. This in turn may spoil other relationships as well. Parents and children also have such equations because of a generation gap. In such cases, not only the children but also the parents need counseling sessions to clear issues. If not taken help, these issues may even destroy relations between parents and children along with breaking families. Thus, communication is key for everything.”
